"Forever Mankind"

[Historia Crux]

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Part 15: The Chronicles of Hectic Matters

President Richard L. Thornburgh

"After my time of numerous positions of dignity and power, they cannot ever equate to the position I now preside. This Presidency I hope is to be one of dignity and compassion. To show to the world that this nation is still a city upon a hill.." - Exert from President Thornburgh's Inaugural Speech

President Thornburgh quickly went to business. He would hold his promise and would appoint conservatives to high up cabinet positions. Professor Jeane Kirkpatrick for State, Ronald Reagan for Defense, Alan Greenspan for Treasury and Jack Kemp for Commerce. Several other nominations won't be so pleasing. The nominations for Energy and the Environment, Housing and Urban Development, Education and Agriculture would be the major battles.

TIME, 1985, Jackson's Nomination

For Housing and Urban Development, Thornburgh named Democrat Jesse Jackson as the nominee. Conservatives tore into Jackson, so did Jewish Congressmen. Thornburgh came out to support Jackson, calling him "the best man that knows the urban environment, from the inner city to the ghetto's". After intense debate and armtwisting, Jesse Jackson is confirmed as HUD Secretary.

Agriculture nominee Bob "Devil" Dole would face some scrutiny by the more partisan conservatives, but was confirmed. The nominee for SEE, former President Mark Hatfield, was forcefully rebuked by Congress by the sword of the conservatives. William Westmoreland's nomination as Education secretary has the opposite results, conservatives are fine with but liberals are angered at this choice. In the end, Westmoreland is confirmed.

In the House, things were transpiring against the Conservative Republicans. The vote for the Republican Majority leadership is a drag down contest. Speaker Lott is challenged by Congressman George H.W. Bush. Bush, being backed by freshman moderate Republicans, is able to peel off a tight victory over his nemesis.

With his victory, Bush will ascend to the Speakership and to show his gratefullness to the ever stronger Libertarian Republicans, rising star Ron Paul is made Deputy Speaker. Trent Lott, nearly ostracized because of the growing influence of Libertarian and Moderates, does a shocking thing. Lott will break from the Republican Party after being offered the position of American Independent House Minority Leader. Weighing his options and his local alliance with the American Independents, Lott made the stomach turning decision.

"I hope to lead this ragtag cavalry against the man in charge, new Speaker George H.W. Bush. Someone who only wants to turn his back on all that the moral majority has done for the Republican Party! That is why I today change my allegiance to the American-Independent Party!" - Trent Lott, 1985

"Well it's nice to see the true colors of Mr. Lott. Not Red like Republicans, but green like those American-Indy whackos." - George H.W. Bush, 1985

Even with the highly polarized Congress, President Thornburgh would begin to implement his "Thornomics". Without a major unifying opposition leader to rally behind, Republicans march forward and pass tax cuts and deep deregulating laws. Other effects is to streamline welfare and to pass one of Thornburgh's pet projects, disabled rights, in the form of the "Americans with Disabilities Act" of 1985.

NERVA Schematics

Two events occur in the area of space exploration. President Thornburgh orders NASA to scrap the usage of Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application(NERVA) in the planned Mars mission. This will quiet the worries of the use of nuclear engines in space and the heavy cost of NERVA use. Instead more effective and safe measures will be used, still though the Mars date will stand at 1995.

While troubled in politics, the Soviet Union announce their hopes of a manned Venus flyby by 1990. To spearhead this, the newly designed Heavy Interplanetary Spacecraft(HIS) will be used, borrowing design elements from the NASA "Red Tomorrow" designs. These two events show the stark differences in the two powers space dominance, with the Soviets of Venus and the US of Mars.

China had been bubbling and stewing over the withdrawl from Afghanistan. Now on the mark of the 10th Anniversary of the Tienanmen clampdown in the 70's, the Chinese youth pour into Beijing to protest. Suspicious already over their defeat in Afghanistan, the Chinese government would use harsh tactics to suppress the protesters. Many were imprisoned, some were killed.

Instead of quieting the troublemakers, it endeared many to the protesters and spontaneous protest broke out in major Chinese cities. As the imposing threat loomed over the regime, they once again made threats of use of military force against the protesters. The protesters wouldn't head this and would grow instead of shrinking in fear. The Beijing regime would order the use of force against the protesters across the country.

This message would never make it to many of the military forces poised to take the many cities, as Reformers in the military would make their move. Ever since the "Regime of Four" solidified their rule in the 70's, reformers have been working quietly through out the government, waiting for the moment to overthrow the corrupt regime. Soldiers began their revolt, turning on their fellow soldiers in violent means by bloodshed or peaceful means as joining the demonstrators. Still, near spontaneous warfare began to break out across China.

Scene of the Battle in Beijing

As street to street warfare broke out and the military seemed to crumble, a fierce and bloody battle began in the capitol of Beijing between the head forces of the reformist coup and the current regime. Protesters, soldiers and civilians would be engulfed in the bloody and long maw of combat in the capitol. In an audacious move, three of the regime leaders are captured, one will be shot while attempting to flee. Though victory has been declared in the wreck of Beijing, still numerous battalions and soldiers are pledged to the Communist dream.

With the populous in a majority of support of the reformers and the military fractured, the reformers had the upperhand in the conflict, still a Civil War had erupted in China.

"Tanks rolled by left and right. Flying blazen flags of the red and yellow or the defaced reformer flags of red and blue. Some idiotic people stood in the way of several barreling regime tanks. Sweet, stupid, heroic people they were. If the situation was different, if the ideals of democratic revolution had not burst into the use of the bullet, I may have done something similar in heroics. Still I did not, I lived through the carnage of the shining city of the Eastern coast. They, they were simply crushed under the weight of the regimes tyranny and the tanks treads. That is what I remember of the Battle of Beijing..." - Quote of Wang Weilin, from A People Amass: The New Revolution

Defense Secretary Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev at the Geneva Conference

President Thornburgh and Soviet Leader Gorbachev met in a meeting with their advisors in the neutral city of Geneva to discuss the new Chinese Civil War. Both Gorbachev and Thornburgh agreed to neutrality in the situation militarily in China, letting Thornburgh to give a Hatfieldesque China statement to the press. With the Geneva Conference on the Chinese Affair(GCCA) done, President Thornburgh arrived in Washington to address the nation. In his address, Thornburgh stated that though not military aid would come, that solidarity must be shown with the demonstrators and the struggling masses in China.

As the world's most populated nation bubbled with revolution and civil war, America sat in a peaceful time internally. The Soviet Union was shaking and heaving back and forth because of Gorbachev's reforms and independence movements were growing in it's borders. The world was in the stages of changing and the remainder of the 80's would parallel this same temperament. The new year dawned and an era of uncertainty was coming forth.

[Historia Crux]

Awesome update! I'm a big fan of Thornburough's cabinet. Do you have an entire list of the cabinet?

Sorry it took so long. Here is the possible working cabinet for Thornburgh.

State: Jeane Kirkpatrick (R-NY)
Treasury: Alan Greenspan (R-NY)
Defense: Ronald Reagan (R-CA)
Attorney General: Sandra Day O'Connor (R-AZ)
Interior: Walter Hickel (R-AK)
Agriculture: Bob Dole (R-KS)
Commerce: Jack Kemp (R-NY)
Labor: Ann McLaughlin (R-NY)
Health and Human Services: Gerald Ford (R-MI)
Housing and Urban Development: Jesse Jackson Sr (D-IL)
Transportation: Neil Goldschmidt (D-OR)
Environment and Energy: James Schlesinger (R-NY)
Education: William Westmoreland (AI-SC)
Chief of Staff: Howard Baker (R-TN)
UN Ambassador: John Eisenhower (R-PA)

[Historia Crux]

While waiting for an update, I have a couple questions:

How long was Agnew actually President?

How is the country handling three Presidential assassinations in less than twenty years?

I'm still working on the next update, be patient. If I remember correctly, Agnew took office in December of 1972 and resigned halfway through 1973, so less than a year. As for how the nation is handling the number of assassinations of Presidents(1963-JFK, 1972-Nixon, 1981-Teddy), quite well infact. Politicians see it as a sad part of the job of executive leader and civilians mourn the loss of a leader, things like this are all apart of the mosaic of political discord that enveloped the 70's and 80's of TTL(Vietnam, Counterculture, "Tea Bag", Partisan gridlock, etc, etc).

[Historia Crux]

Just a small nitpick, but...
Since Barry Jr. was a Congressman in 1984, I'm guessing he didn't run for Senate in 1982, right?

Right, good old Ronnie ran for the Senate seat in '82, with Barry Jr's backing.

[Historia Crux]

Part 16: The Chronicles of War

With China up in flames, tension began to rise in Eastern Europe and the USSR. Would it be known that the Soviet space program would forward the tension between reformers and hardliners in the USSR. In mid January, a routine trek to the World Space Station by the Soviet space shuttle Buran became a tragedy. On it's return trip to Mother Russia, the Buran would erupt into a horrifying fireball in the sky.

Destruction of the Buran

Quickly what should have been a unifying effect upon the USSR, was in fact the opposite. Hardliners called the disaster a proving point that the reformers were splurging the Soviet nation into the ground. Quickly a bloody war of words enveloped the Soviet newspapers. Also talk began to funnel in Estonia of secession from the USSR, because of long resentment and the crazed air in the USSR over such a terrible disaster that should bring unification for a short time.

After all, Estonia did loose their first Cosmonaut in the destruction of the Buran. Soon though some "Sovie-ophile" sentiment would bubble up, offering any aid to the Soviet space program and the loss of one of their shuttles. Gorbachev would politely rebuff these sincere moves, stating that they had many Soyuz capsules and the Korolyov space shuttle still to use to supply the WSS. For now, greater safety checks would be implaced and the Soviet space program would suffer a loss in their budget.

With the Chinese affair weighing on the consciouses of many, President Thornburgh had to look back to America to fulfill a campaign pledge and to satisfy the Libertarian Republicans. Once against Ron Paul introduced the Gold Standard Act(GSA) of 1986. Paul was joyous about the position he was in, it was very likely to pass. The Democrats though had become a solid block to the issue in both the House and Senate.

Deputy Paul stressing the passage of the GSA

After arm twisting, conservative Republicans voted along with most moderates and fiscal conservative Democrats from the west and south, the bill was passed in the House of Representatives. In the Senate chambers, Democrats organized a strong push to kill the bill as they had done so before. This all the pushing on their part and the leadership of Senator Robert Byrd cannot end the assault from conservatives about the issue that they were promised. In a close battle over votes, the Senate passes the Paul Gold Standard Act of 1986 with several modifications.

As President Thornburgh signs the act into law, the economy fluctuates as the verbal battle in Congress has sent the stock market down a wounded path. Thus this hurts an economy that is just getting on track out of it's slump. In response to this wounding to the economy, Treasury Secretary Greenspan came to President Thornburgh and addressed to him the need to allow tax cuts for the wealthy. Thornburgh, weary of these, was trying to not do such a thing and anger lower class Americans with this "pander to the 2%".

"'No..hell..way!' is what I remember as Secretary Jesse blurted out. The air in the oval office was tense. No kinds words had ever been exchanged between Jackson and Greenspan during the entire tenure of my administration. This spat over the 2% tax cuts were what started it and I thought I could moderate these two men to find a common ground. That was the problem, moderation cannot be found on this mountain, if you get to the peak, you fall off either one side or another. Jesse bluntly said to me that it would be my face in the history books and that it was up to me to label myself. 'Do you wanna be Robin Hood or some damn Robber Baron'. A baron or a merry man of the hood was what I could be, the only thing I did know for a fact was that my cabinet was not the merriest of men". - Exert from A Time to Decide: the Biography of Richard Thornburgh

Across the Atlantic in a bar in West Berlin, American soldiers were carousing and having the best of times. From their point of view the Soviets were friendly and especially grand, the drinks were half off because of so many American soldiers that night. Things were usual, even the scurrying man that left the briefcase didn't send shivers for what was to come. Quickly as things were simple in comparison, things went to horrifyingly terrible.

An explosion erupted in the discotheque, killing 10 people in the process and wounding several hundred. As the sorting through the devastation occurred after by the West Berliner aid, it was discovered that out of the ten dead, six were American soldiers. Things happened quickly through out the month of April, President Thornburgh worked with his West German counterpart to uncover who was behind the attack. What came to light linked back to Libyan East Berlin embassy and the congratulatory telex messages from Libya on the attack.

Congress, controlled by Republicans, called for retribution against Libya. Enough internationalist Democrats joined in to hound President Thornburgh that he began to form a "Coalition of the United". Britain, West Germany, Egypt, France, Greece, Chad and a number of other allies united behind America after the April 5th bombing. In mid April, Congress voted for a declaration of war against Libya.

American fighters prepare for action

Forces were garrisoned in the Mediterranean to do battle and begin bombing of Libyan cities and military installations in a "High Tech War" against Qaddafi's government. President Thornburgh had decided not to commit ground forces as of yet and hoped to use air forces to overpower and force the hand of the Libyan government. International criticism came in different shades, Italy was the most forceful while the USSR attacked the US verbally but also made scathing remarks about the Libyan government also. Things even became more complicated when Italian Prime Minister Craxi secretly informed Muammar Qadaffi of planned bombings on his compound, lengthened what was thought to be a quick week long war or so. Still the Libyan War had started with mixed beginnings.

In September, DC Comics began the limited series "Who Killed the Peacemaker". In years to come, Peacemaker will be hailed as an excellent and shocking comic dealing with serious problems and asking "What If?". Peacemaker involves a world where superheroes are real, Nixon never was assassinated and served three terms, Apollo 11 was saved and the Cold War continues between the US and the USSR, with the PRC playing devils advocate to either side. The simple story involves the murder of one of the former superheroes, "Vishnu" as he was known, by an unknown assailant, setting off a mad dash to discover who and why.

The year moved to the next, 1987. The years of the hectic 80's were coming closer to an end. Still there was much fuss to come to the world in the three years left in the clock. China was in civil war, the United States and it's fractured allies had involved themselves in a war with Libya and the Soviet Union was swaying back in forth from the strain of all these long years. The world watches as 1987 dawns.

[Historia Crux]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been terribly sick and sadly still am. To this degree, I sadly will not be updating until I get to feeling better.

[Historia Crux]

Bump. The last update was a little less than 20 days ago, I think.

Yeah sorry about that. I was sick, now I have a major case of writer's block. I have all these idea's for the TL, but when I sit down to type them out they just don't flow.

[Historia Crux]

Bump. The last update was a little less than 20 days ago, I think.

Yeah sorry about that. I was sick, now I have a major case of writer's block. I have all these idea's for the TL, but when I sit down to type them out they just don't flow.

Yeah, I've had that.

Oh isn't it a pain.

[Historia Crux]

Bump/ Still got writer's block?

Big time. I could use some help, but I don't know how or from who though.

[Historia Crux]

Part 17: The Chronicles of Criticism

The internationalist motifs that had painted the Kennedy administration with the usage of the United Nations, had now come back in the form of a spearheaded US retaliatory attack on Libya. From the beginning, Libya was outmanned and outgunned as forces in the Mediterranean swarmed the coast, launching fighters to bombard the cities that stretched the beaches of the nation. Libyan and Egyptian forces sparred in a proxy war with Egyptians gaining the backing of the US and it's handful of supporting European allies. For the most part, the Libyan War would be more so a several month long bombing tactics against Gaddafi.

Newsweek's take on the Libyan War

Several battles took place between American and Libyan naval forces, usually leading to American victories. Still the technological superior US felt the sting of victory, having lost more fighters than expected. In February, after the death of one of Gaddafi's sons in a bombing raid, Gaddafi called for a truce. President Thornburgh moved on this and a treaty was signed.

The treaty would include Libya taking responsibility for the Gulf of Sidra and the April Berlin bombing and would pay for reparations to the American and West German families of the dead in the April bomb attack. There was also a call for the Libyan government to crack down on terrorist elements internally and to halt occupation of the Aouzou Strip and allow UN peacekeepers in. Even though a victory had been achieved, the world and the American public had begun to grow sour of the internationalist qualities of the Stars and Stripes.

After the blunt disaster from the Lebanon War in the early 80's, the Iraqi-Syrian Friendship Union had dissolved. Now without strength or solidarity in government, Iraq had fallen into religious infighting. It was kept "underwraps" to say, but in 1987 the violence consumed Iraq in civil war. Sunni and Shiite Iraqi's warred against each other in the nation as gun runners from Iran supplied the fast growing support of a "Islamic Republic of Iraq".

The government in Baghdad was weak and with it's simplistic and strained diplomatic ties with Syria, they plead for some type of support to help quell the infighting. Syria, already seeing the uptick in violence from the Islamic Brotherhood, decided to send forces to aid the Baghdad government. The Syrians attempt to make an example to their own people in their home country and attach Iraq ever so snugly in their sphere of influence would turn into a nightmare. The Syrians and friendly Iraqis would become bogged down in religious civil war that seemed caked over the whole surface of the country.

Car bomb attacks by insurgents in Ramadi

Places like Ramadi, Baghdad and Fallujah will become hotspots for the Syrian forces and open sores will prevail in Iraq. As the taxed Syrians will try and deal with their growing quagmire, America would do little to rally against the Syrian endeavour in the middle east. For the reasoning being is that the Libyan War had strained the tastebuds of Americans for international endeavours. The United Nations, without it's major leader in military adventurism, would be led by the USSR to tackle only a few damning resolutions attacking the tactics of the Syrian occupants.

"The Syrian Occupation of Iraq, lasting from 1987 to 1991, was one of the bloodiest attempts to expand Syrian influence in the Middle East. From the beginning, Syrian forces were ill prepared and quickly were overcome by Sunni and Shiite religious fighters and Kurdish independence forces. In their attempts to quell opposition to the occupation of Iraq, Syria gained the ire of the international community for it's gruesome shows of authority. One of the bloodiest measures was the usage of chemical weapons against Sunni and Shiite insurgent combatants, with the majority help from Iraqi military leader Ali 'Genocide Ali' Hassan al-Majid on chemical warfare..." -Exert from Wars of Occupation: Syria in Conflict

Back at home, President Thornburgh had finished his mullover on what to do with upper class tax cuts. Thornburgh decided to reluctantly support the position in the form of a bill in the senate. Secretary Jesse Jackson bombastically attacked the President and resigned in a forceful manner because of Thornburgh's move. Liberal Republicans came out in force against the bill, led by Senator Lowell Weicker.

Democrats were split, the conservative factions that had gained the moniker "Goldbugs" for their support of a return to the gold standard, were to be the prevalent bipartisan support. Northern and Midwestern Democrats otherwise were against the tax cuts on liberal or local grounds. With enough armtwisting, the Tax cuts passed after some bargaining to back affirmative action laws by the Thornburgh administration. After the battle in Congress, the gap between the Thornburgh administration and liberal Republicans were widening.

"All this president has done is lie into office that he would be "Mr. Moderate", bring about a 'politics of tomorrow'. No he has done no such thing, he has endorsed more partisan gridlock with support of tax cuts for the rich and wars oversea's. I for one cannot stand this any longer. That is why I officially declare my candidacy against President Thornburgh for the Republican nomination. For the good of the Republican Party I take up this challenge" - Senator Lowell Weiker, Announcement of Candidacy

China had finally began to coalesce again around a central government. The reformists had rounded up the Gang of four and their cohorts, while consolidating support in the military to it's full extent. Still their were the handful of loyal communist generals and the many loyal colonels and soldiers pledged to live and die by the word of the revolution. Many began to disperse into the background and begin what would become a bloody attrition of a guerrilla war.

"Citizens, we came to late for Beijing. So many lives lost for the sake of order, for that I am sorry. Talk of us, criticism of us, it is all necessary. The reason I speak today is not to ask forgiveness from the Chinese people, but to ask to lend us support. China hangs upon a simple rope, but that rope is frayed. I ask support to this government, this movement, to this Chinese people. We do this not for ourselves, but for our future, for our children. They are to be the future of this nation, they are the ones to fight our fathomless conflicts and troubles to come. For my generation, we do not care, it is over for us, are lives are coming to their end. The young still have their youth, near seventy years to live and die. My one simple wish is to see the China state to live on as a unified presence, one that shall respect the will of the law and the will of the people all of the same. Thank you..." - Speech by Ambassador Zhao Ziyang, Interim Leader of the Beijing Reformist Government

The Soviet Union had it's fair share of problems, one was the continual harassment of Gorbachev's reform policies from hardliners. Many of the remaining hardliners in the government were anchored in the military, where it was very touchy to remove a man from the position of that power. A Western German by the name of Mathias Rust would inadvertently allow Gorbachev to solve one of his problems. Rust would pilot a Cessna aircraft in a hopping fashion from Iceland to Sweden and then directly into Soviet airspace.

Rust's plane in Moscow

Rust would, as Russians would say, be "born with a shirt" or born lucky, for his endeavor would be filled with luck. He would make through what had been thought of as one of the most aerial protected areas in the world. Rust would then land his plane in Red square and would wait non shalantly for the KGB or local police to rush to the scene. Instead, people crowded around and gawked at the West German, marveling at his endeavor.

Soon enough, Rust was arrested and brought into custody. Although Rust had been jailed, the damage had already occurred to Soviet military prestige. Mikhail Gorbachev publically chewed out the Soviet military for their sloppy response to the Rust affair and to previous events. Gorbachev used this to dismiss military officers directly linked to the Soviet aerial command and began to branch out, weeding out a number of political dissenters in a bloodless purge of the military.

With the Soviet purge, the year of 1987 came to a final and exhaustive end. The Chinese were locked in a civil war, Syria was bathing it's hands in gore in Iraq, President Thornburgh was being scorned by many sides of the aisle and Gorbachev was mapping out a new road for the Soviet Union. After the year of criticism, 1988 dawned, bringing more fathomless fights to come.

[Historia Crux]

Well I've just really started to hunker down to write part 18 since my dog Bear has been sick for the past two weeks and I've been the one to care for him. Sadly he died several days ago from problems because of heartworms. Needless to say my mind has been preoccupied by other things. Fingers crossed for me to finish part 18.

[Historia Crux]

Part 18: The Chronicles of Protest

The 1988 Winter Olympics convened in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to a motto "Can You Feel It?". What can be felt through out the Olympics is tension between the two nations that takeaway the most victories in the games, the Soviet Union and East Germany. It is very known that the hardline East German government had not been at all excited by the fracturing of the Warsaw Pact and the Soviet Union itself. So what the media calls the "Ultimate Showdown" between reformer Communism and hardline beliefs, is hyped to it's full for ratings.

Attorney General O'Connor during the Senate Confirmation

With Nixon appointed Justice Lewis Powell leaving the court, President Thornburgh decided to nominate Attorney General Sandra Day O'Connor for the supreme court vacancy. O'Connor, a center right moderate, would become the first woman on the Supreme Court after much fighting with Democrats and Liberal Republicans in the confirmation stage. Much of the verbal combat was because of the wedge between conservative and moderate factions in the Republican Party, with the moderate/liberal leader Lowell Weicker being a verbose attacker of the administration. Still O'Connor would be confirmed by the Senate and took her place on the highest court in the land.

The religious right, the kingmakers in the southern United States, were becoming unnerved by events in the Country. In the high profile move by Hustler magazine to parody Jerry Falwell about "his first time" drinking Campari alcohol. Falwell will sue Hustler for libel. In the high profile event, the court case would go all the way to the Supreme Court, where in the case of Hustler Magazine v. Falwell the court would rule in favor of Hustler Magazine. The basis was that reasonable people wouldn't believe the parody to be factual, overturning a lower court ruling in favor of Falwell in the process.

What had started as a trickle was soon becoming a flood in the Soviet Union. Regional support was growing everywhich way in the Baltic areas of the USSR for independence. In places like the Soviet's Eastern Europe soviet republics and Central Asian, sympathy was shown as they themselves had hopes for independence. Gorbachev, the mastermind behind the transformation of the Soviet Union in the 80's now was facing a tide of popular unrest.

One of the many demonstrations in the USSR

Military officials called to send armed forces into the inflared sectors to calm the areas. Other proposals were to allow regional referendums to gage popular support, others called to simply let the the Soviet Union dissolve. Gorbachev, wishing not to let the Soviet Union to not simply collapse, decided to allow referendums to gage support on the ground in the Baltic states, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
The referendums were set for October, the United States meanwhile applauded Gorbachev's moves as a step towards greater freedom in the Soviet Union.

"Referendum Question: Do you wish for the independence of your said Soviet Republic, free and completely independent, from the Soviet Union or do you wish to have greater autonomy and/or greater continuation as apart of the Soviet Union?

-Results-

Armenian SSR Independence: 55% Autonomy/Continuation: 45% Azerbaijan SSR Autonomy/Continuation: 53% Independence: 47% Byelorussian SSR Autonomy/Continuation: 65% Independence: 35% Estonian SSR Independence: 68% Autonomy/Continuation: 32% Georgian SSR Autonomy/Continuation: 58% Independence: 42%

Kazakh SSR Autonomy/Continuation: 56% Independence: 44% Kirghiz SSR Independence: 54% Autonomy/Continuation: 46% Latvian SSR Independence: 66% Autonomy/Continuation: 34% Lithuanian SSR Independence: 63% Autonomy/Continuation: 37% Moldavian SSR Independence: 56% Autonomy/Continuation: 44%

Russian SFSR Autonomy/Continuation: 71% Independence: 29% Tajik SSR Independence: 56% Autonomy/Continuation: 44% Turkmen SSR Independence: 57% Autonomy/Continuation: 43% Ukrainian SSR Autonomy/Continuation: 55% Independence: 45% Uzbek SSR Independence: 56% Autonomy/Continuation: 44%

The situation in the Middle East meanwhile was deepening. Iranian vessels, loaded with supplies for Iraqi Islamists, was attacked by Iraqi government assault crafts. The attack turned away the Iranian cargo ships for a time and it soon led to tension in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian government soon drew up plans to mine the common sea routes of Iraqi government ships in the Gulf.

For a month, the Iranian operation mined the sea lanes of Iraq in response to it's rebuffing of it's vessels. The situation expanded when an innocent Kuwaiti vessel was sunk because one of these mines, forcing the tiny gulf nation of Kuwait into the mess. Meanwhile in the United States, the DOW fluctuated because of fears of crippling the oil lanes due to the Iranian-Iraqi power struggle. President Thornburgh would do what he could, calling for calm economically at home and militarily between Iran and Iraq.

As things were spinning out of control in the Middle East, things were transpiring in East Europe. With the growing calls for autonomy and independence in the Soviet Union and the independent streak of the Communists in Poland, popular demonstrations began in Czechoslovakia and Hungary. The demonstrators called for expanded rights, more open political, religious and labor processes and reforms in the Communists regimes to rid them of corruption and cronyism. These were tall orders, but the leaders of Czechoslovakia and Hungary were facing a flood as their opposition.

Czechoslovakians protesting for greater rights

Czechoslovakia was the first nation to relent and announce reforms in their government. They followed Poland's example and began to let slack for the labor movement, while they bowed to allowing greater personal and religious freedoms. These were major steps in the right direction, the last major announcement was historic. The Czechoslovakian government announced that by the end of 1989, the nation would hold democratic elections.

Hungary would be much more trying for the demonstrators. Although new leadership in the form of Bruno Ferenc Straub was open to the demands of the demonstrators, it was the military that was the roadblock. Hardliners and traditionalists had been the majority in a number of Hungarian leadership ever since the reforms in the USSR. Chairman Straub, hoping to appease both sides, moved to implement a number of the political reforms while being quite liberal in clearing out cronyism in the government, effectively looking the other way for the traditionalists sake.

In other events around the world, in a near bloodless coup the corrupt Pakistani government is overthrown by authoritarian General Rahimuddin Khan. Khan would pledge a government of integrity and that would produce results for the Pakistani people. In China the provisional reformist government was having a hard time tamping down communism insurgency in the central provinces, which at the time sliced off the provinces of Tibet and Sinkiang. Because of this, the unrecognized Republic's of Tibet and Sinkiang had been proclaimed to face the roving bands of communists insurgents that also threatened them.

Although the Chinese reformist government would work with these separatist nations for now, they still claimed them ultimately as apart of China proper. The year of 1988 was over. What had been a year propagated by protest and demands for greater freedoms across the globe was at it's end. The United States had went through another turbulent series of elections, the Communist block and the USSR itself was collapsing, China was in the midst of a bloody war of attrition and also so was Syria in Iraq. Though turbulence in the year make moments seem to stand still, the world still revolves and so a new year dawns.

[Historia Crux]

Glad it's back. Hoping for the 1988 election next.

It'll be up shortly.

[Historia Crux]

Presidential Election of 1988

The Republicans: The Republicans were deeply divided in stark partisan lines. Moderates, Libertarians, Conservatives and Liberals were battling for the soul of the Grande Old Party and in the middle of it was President Thornburgh. Although his major opposition was from liberal Senator Lowell Weicker and western Conservative Senator Larry Pressler, Thornburgh was able to quickly outpace them both by "Super Tuesday" and soon captured the nomination again. Thornburgh, bruised and tarnished by a tough campaign, chose to keep Vice President Goldwater on the ticket.

The Democrats: The Democrats had to choose between three candidates, Governor Mario Cuomo representing the liberal factions, Governor Bill Baxley representing the moderates and conservatives and Senator Gary Hart representing the progressives. Due to a fierce battle between all three candidates and Cuomo and Hart, with similar voting blocs, tore at each other as Baxley rose to the surface with stressing moderation, internal and health care reforms. Baxley, not that interested in appeasing western progressives, chose northeastern Governor Michael Dukakis as his runningmate. Jesse Jackson, after his defeat, his worry over Baxley's "liberalness" and disdain at the Thornburgh administration, kicked off an African-American friendly independent bid.

The American-Indepents: With the party declining in Congressional returns, many called this the "last hurrah" of the American-Independent Party. The candidates for it's nomination were Televangelist Pat Robertson of Virginia and Buffalo Mayor James D. Griffin. Robertson, although controversial, pushed himself to the nomination. Robertson shunned attempts to place Griffin on the ticket and instead chose Trent Lott. Robertson would base his campaign on a return to a "Christian nation" and defeating the "Godless Thornburgh".

The General: The campaign revolved around the economy. Although it had recovered, international affairs had shaken the economy numerous times and that worried the American people. The populace was also turning more on internationalist feelings, instead embracing a more isolationary foreign policy. Baxley took this up and campaigned on an isolationary foreign policy, while pushing to kickstart internal reforms in health care, the economy and infrastructure. Thornburgh ran on an international foreign policy appeal, calling for simply "Four more years, It's getting better". With four candidates pulling in the election and a fractured Republican Party, the Democrats retook the White House after four years of Republican governing.

(D)-Fmr Gov. William "Bill" J. Baxley II,AL/Gov. Michael S. Dukakis,MA: 315 EV
(R)-Pres. Richard "Dick" L. Thornburgh,PA/VP. Barry M. Goldwater Jr,CA: 193 EV
(AI)-Televangelist M. Gordon "Pat" Robertson,VA/Rep. C. Trent Lott Sr,MS: 27 EV
(I)-Fmr HUD Sec. Jesse L. Jackson Sr,IL/Fmr Rep. Shirley A. St. Hill Chisholm,NY: 3 EV

[Historia Crux]

Part 19: The Chronicles of Revolution

With solemn eyes, outgoing President Thornburgh would watch his successor take centerstage to deliver his inaugural speech. With baited breath, the nation watched.

William "Bill" J. Baxley II, the 43rd POTUS

"Today fellow Americans, the tumultuous chronicles of the city on a hill continue on. What has occurred to this nation is the dawn of a new chapter, a new chapter that will reflect true fiscal responsibility, a humble foreign policy and internal repair. Today America, is the dawn of Democratic action...."-Exert from President Baxley's Inaugural Speech

Because of a split Republican Party, the Democrats had taken control of the House and come close to victory in the Senate. With Republicans still taking pot shots at one another, the Democrats the upperhand and began to push through their agenda in Congress. The military budget was slashed, social programs were expanded, taxes were raised on the rich and the NASA budget was gutted beyond belief. Because of the NASA cuts a surprisingly quiet Senator would rise to challenge President Baxley.

Senator James "Jim" Lovell of Illinois rose to challenge the NASA cuts, calling them "atrocious" and that "President Baxley has went at the budget with a chainsaw with glee". The major point that Lovell attacked was the massive cuts in Tomorrow program to put a man on Mars by 2000. With this in hand, even some Democrats spurred President Baxley's NASA cuts, including Defense Secretary John Glenn. Evermore, the Democratic house pushed the Baxley budget through and after rangling the Senate passed it as well.

"As of now the spirit of American exploration, which so many men and women through our short history on this Earth, is under an atrocious barrage of attacks by men who do not know a scalpel from a hatchet. As President Edward Kennedy stated 'that the dream shall never die', we cannot allow the monumental achievement that this nation endeavors towards placing a person on another planet to die. Nor shall I allow this to occur.." - Exert from Senator Lovell's speech on the Senate floor

In Moscow, representatives from the newly independent Soviet republics met to sign the official proclamation of independence from the USSR. A ceremonial session of the Duma would be held with delegates from the newly independent nations sitting in, thus it became known as the "Last Duma". In several strokes of the pen, nine new nations were officially born from the Soviet Union. What would become known as the 1989 Moscow Proclamation would also enshrine the creation of the Communal Alliance of Republic, an alliance of sorts that resembled the likes of NATO.

Ceremonial Meeting of the Duma, the "Last Duma"

Although with the partition of the Soviet Union and the creation of the Communal Republic, their were still major issues in the USSR. First, Gorbachev announced that similar referendums would be held in key Soviet Republics to still already existing Republics into separate ones. This issue was raised because of the anger boiling in places like Chechnya, which was one of the few places that voted for independence in the Russian SFSR, sections of the Caucus regions like Dagestan and the ethnic tension ongoing in the Kazakh SSR between ethic Kazakhs and Russian Kazakhs. Second, the quickly democratizing USSR government would announce that general elections would be held in 1990, so that opposition parties can take their time to coalesce and form from early 1989 to late 1990.

In Egypt, protests were born from the successes of Hungary, Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union. These protesters would call for President Anwar Sadat to loosen restrictions, allow fair and democratic elections and reforms of government. President Sadat, facing a restless public and wishing not to be a blood stain on history, announced reforms and that there would be democratic elections, going so far to announce he would not run in these elections. With the protesters satisfied, most people suspected long time Vice President Hosni Mubarak would succeed Sadat in the newly scheduled general election.

Secretary of State Robert Strauss would make a historic visit to China, becoming the first American diplomat to visit the nation since Richard Nixon. Strauss would meet with Provisional Premier Zhao Ziyang in the capitol of Beijing. With the capitol far away from the battlefront in the central provinces, it will be a quiet and ceremonial discussion between the two leaders. Strauss will reiterate that the United States supported the new provisional government in China over the old hardliner one, that the Cold War was coming to an end and that the Baxley Administration was cutting back funds and aid to China to focus on internal issues on the United States.

Ziyang is displeased by these turn of events, but does not raise his voice or anger over the decision. Instead Ziyang will consider moving closer to the Soviet Union for aid in the fight against Communist insurgents, much to the irony of such a thing to ask a communist nation to help defeat communist rebels. With Ziyang let down lightly about cuts to international aid from the United States, another international moment that the Baxley Administration had to face, rose. The issue was Panama and it's ever growing desperate despot Manuel Noriega.

General Noriega, a former US ally, had become more paranoid under the Galifianakis Administration and the detente and unlikely friendship between the US and the USSR. Because of this peace, Sandinista rebels had spread through out Nicaragua and set off leftist rebels in surrounding countries. This already regional instability, coupled with the revolutions in the USSR, China, Eastern Europe and now Egypt, Noriega was in no hurry to let democracy flower in Panama. When marchers protested the harsh military rule, Noriega ordered Panamanian Defense forces to advance on the protesters.

Picture of PDF crackdown in Balboa

With haste and unflinching allegiance, the PDF forces would pummel and drive the Panamanian democracy movement underground in one feld swoop. President Baxley would release a strongly worded condemnation of Noriega's actions, but had no intention of doing something drastic. Afterall, the use of Panama Canal as blackmail to the United States was a ripe idea to use if the Baxley Administration were to push for anything bigger than a condemnation. The Soviet Union instead would head a stronger condemnation of Noriega, pushing for UN sanctions against Panama and the Noriega dictatorship.

As cities all along the tiny strip of land known as Panama ignited into outpourings of dissent, the revolutionary spirit was spreading even further. Relatively peaceful movements sprung up in Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan and Mongolia calling for greater democratic concessions, with most being successful. In South Africa, protests helped lead to the destruction of the system of apartheid in the nation and eventual free elections and total voting rights to all South Africans. The most pinnacle of nations affected by the revolutions of 1989 were to be East Germany.

The East German government under Erich Honecker had been one of the strongest critics of Gorbachev's reforms and "soft communism" as a whole, which would lead the East Berlin government to sign the Eastern Pact with Bulgaria and Albania against soft communism. Honecker, aged and withering away, was determined to preserve his nation from what had occurred to the USSR and the eastern bloc and when the revolutions of 1989 spread to East Germany, Honecker would take a "Chinese solution" towards the situation. With demands ranging from free elections, greater liberties, free labor unions and reunification, the protests would be brutally repressed with thousands jailed and tried as subversives. This move will only inflame the strong and growing movement in East Germany for reform.

To further deal with dissent and arguing for party purity, moderate members and especially ones that had sympathy with Gorbachev were cleansed from the East German government. Still, as flashpoints occur in places like Leipzig between East German forces and protesters, nothing could prepare the East German government for what would come in late November. Massive demonstrations sprung up in East Berlin near the Berlin Wall, along with similar demonstrations in the west, calling for the reunification of Germany. As West Germans by the hundreds crawl up on the wall, heavily armed East German border guards position themselves between the two sides.

The first East Germans reach the wall, before the "Shots Heard Round the World"

Soon though desperate East Germans, wishing to escape their countrywide prison, crash through the borders guards and make a mad dash towards the wall by the hundreds. With outstretched hands, West Germans begin to help the East Germans over the wall, but then the sound of gun rounds are heard. East and West Germans begin to fall as panicked and angered East border guards begin to open fire on the protesters. As the protesters disperse in fear and terror, some of the devilishly smart border guards bring a ladder to the wall and fire indiscriminately into the west, killing nearly two dozen in the process.

After the horrid and terrifying event is over in a heartbeat, the morning after is tense and filed with tension between the west and east. Because of Western media, the East German government puts on a blackout of foreign communications in an attempt to halt the negative world opinion of East Germany. In the coming month, NATO forces will pour into West Berlin and West Germany itself to reinforce the country. US and European diplomats will try their best to pry words from the Honecker government, usually receiving the that their is no crisis and the whole mess is an internal matter.

As the month of December drags on, Red Army militants carry out terrorist attacks in West Germany, heightening the tension started with the Berlin Crisis. With the month of December over, so was the year and 1989 ended with an unsavory taste in many mouths. For now many would hope that 1990 would bring much, much better days and a hope for a resolution to the conflict...

[Historia Crux]

What I like is how that people you might have never had of have a chance at being President in this timeline, and you make it seem completely plausible.

Thanks! Well when you think about it, people probably wouldn't have suspected someone like Jimmy Carter or Ronald Reagan of becoming President at a time in history. I just do the same thing to different people, different circumstances mean different presidents afterall and I can tell you there will be some suprises in the presidents to come.

[Historia Crux]

Part 5: The Chronicles of Division
 Hatfield would reopen dialogue at the Paris Peace Accords, booting the Agnewite Secretary of State and replacing him with Henry Kissinger.

This is from a while back, but who was Agnew's Secretary of State?

I didn't have an idea for a specific person at the time since I tried to allude that Agnew was shaking up Nixon's cabinet. If I did have to name a specific person, I guess Ellsworth Bunker would be Agnew's State Secretary. Bunker was experienced in diplomatic matters and was a supporter of the Vietnam War afterall.

[Historia Crux]

I love the new advertisement!

Thanks!

[Historia Crux]

Here's something I couldn't find a way to stuff into Part 19. Think of it as a "deleted scene".

"...Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again,
Alliance 1, Woodstock, Arthur Bremer, Spiro Agnew, punk rock,

Health Care, Bonn, Valentina on the Moon, Camp David, Teddy Kennedy,
ERA, Hinckley, Palestine, Terror on the airline, Ayatollah's in Iran, Chinese in Afghanistan,

Perestroika, John and Yoko, Wheel of Fortune, heavy metal suicide, China's in civl war,
AIDS, Crack, Bernie Goetz, Dick Thornburgh, Fort Knox, Libya,

Syrian occupation, East Germay's under marshall law
Rock and Roller cola wars, I can't take it anymore

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning since the world's been turning.
We didn't start the fire
But when we are gone
It will still burn on, and on, and on, and on...

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No, we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No, we didn't light it
But we tried to fight it

We didn't start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire..."

[Historia Crux]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I'll try and start working on Part 20 again. Main reason behind my work-stoppage was me being in the hospital because of pancreatitis and gallstones.

[Historia Crux]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-13041326

Interesting. Thanks for bringing this to my attention, it could really help spice up the TL down the road. After the US lands a man on Mars sometime in the 90's, a newly reformed Soviet Union could really pick up the pace on space exploration and maybe a new space race may ensue between the USSR and the US down the road to place a base on the Moon or explore Venus or any number of area's of the solar system, the skys the limits.

[Historia Crux]

As I continue to work on my Perot TL and this one, I came across this interesting gem. A little gem called "Moon Graffiti".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/audio/2011/feb/08/the-truth-podcast-moon-graffiti

[Historia Crux]

As I continue to work on my Perot TL and this one, I came across this interesting gem. A little gem called "Moon Graffiti".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/audio/2011/feb/08/the-truth-podcast-moon-graffiti

Damn. I thought this was going to be an update.

Is this what you based Forever Mankind on, or did you the article after you'd started this?

I actually started this whole TL because of William Safire's "Moon Disaster Speech". It just so happens that I stumbled upon this and it's also based on the "Moon Disaster Speech".

[Historia Crux]

This is really phenomenal, and I've enjoyed reading it.

I have a humble request, however: could there please be posted a list of presidents and vice president's in this TL? With party and time in office please. I hope that isn't too much of an imposition.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

Thank you for such praise! And hopefully this will satisfy that humble request.

Presidential List
37. Richard M. Nixon (Republican-New York) January 20, 1969 - December 18, 1972
38. Spiro T. Agnew (Republican-Maryland) December 18, 1972 - November 12, 1973
39. Mark O. Hatfield (Republican-Oregon) November 12, 1973 - January 20, 1977
40. Edward "Ted" M. Kennedy (Democratic-Massachusetts) January 20, 1977 - March 30, 1981
41. Nick Galifianakis (Democratic-North Carolina) March 30, 1981 - January 20, 1985
42. Richard "Dick" L. Thornburgh (Republican-Pennsylvania) January 20, 1985 - January 20, 1989
43. William "Bill" J. Baxley II (Democratic-Alabama) January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993
44. James "Jim" A. Lovell, Jr. (Republican-Illinois) January 20, 1993 - ??
Vice Presidential List
39. Spiro T. Agnew (Republican-Maryland) January 20, 1969 - December 18, 1972
40. Mark O. Hatfield (Republican-Oregon) March 7, 1973 - November 12, 1973
41. Gerald R. Ford, Jr. (Republican-Michigan) January 5, 1974 - January 20, 1977
42. Nick Galifianakis (Democratic-North Carolina) January 20, 1977 - March 30, 1981
43. R. Sargent Shriver, Jr. (Democratic-Maryland) April 23, 1981 - January 20, 1985
44. Barry M. Goldwater, Jr. (Republican-California) January 20, 1985 - January 20, 1989
45. Michael S. Dukakis (Democratic-Massachusetts) January 20, 1989 - January 20, 1993
46. Nancy L. Kassebaum (Republican-Kansas) January 20, 1993 - ??

[Historia Crux]

Update please!

Sorry it's taking so long. I've been terribly busy, but need not fear! Part 20 shall be here! Yeah Part 20 is continually growing and it should be ready I hope by the end of the week. With that said, I'm going to really try and buckle down to finish up Part 20 in those days of the remaining week.